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Jean Noel Thorel is a French entrepreneur, biologist, and professional poker player. He is currently ranked #1 on the France All-Time Money List, holding a massive lead over all other French players in history. Outside of poker, he is the founder of NAOS, the global skincare conglomerate that owns major brands like Bioderma and Institut Esthederm.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
With over $30,177,000 in total live earnings, according to The Hendon Mob, Thorel is one of the most successful high-stakes players in the world, currently ranking inside the top 40 on the Global All-Time Money List.
His landmark achievement came in December 2025 at the historic $25,000 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise Super Main Event in the Bahamas. Having entered the final day as the dominant chip leader, Thorel navigated a field of 2,891 entries to finish as the runner-up after an intense heads-up battle with Bernhard Binder, taking home an astronomical $6,000,000 prize.
His largest recorded tournament scores to date include:
- $6,000,000 – 2nd place in the $25,000 WSOP Paradise Super Main Event in December 2025.
- $2,875,000 – 2nd place in the $100,000 Triton Main Event at Triton Jeju in March 2024.
- $2,830,000 – 2nd place in the $125,000 Triton Main Event at Triton London in August 2023.
- $2,137,100 – 2nd place in the $250,000 PCA Super High Roller in January 2023.
- $1,390,000 – 3rd place in the $150,000 Triton Main Event at Triton Montenegro in May 2026.
Biography & Poker Background
Born in 1947, Thorel is a 79-year-old pharmacist-biologist who turned a small invention into a global skincare empire. While he is often called an “amateur” due to his primary wealth coming from NAOS, he has been a consistent professional-level competitor on the live high-roller circuit since 2008.
He is a legendary fixture at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series and the European Poker Tour (EPT) . Proving his unwavering endurance, Thorel continued his elite run well into mid-2026, traveling to the Triton Series Montenegro where he added yet another seven-figure score to his resume by finishing 3rd in the $150,000 Anniversary Special. In 2018, he solidified his personal legacy by donating all of his NAOS assets to a shareholder foundation dedicated to philanthropy and skin health research.
Play Style & Strategy
Thorel is famous for a fearless and aggressive style that frequently puts world-class professionals in difficult spots.
- Elite Pressure: His strategy revolves around utilizing a large stack to apply maximum pressure, often ignoring standard ICM (Independent Chip Model) constraints that might limit other players.
- Unpredictability: He is noted for his ability to play a wide range of hands, making it exceptionally difficult for opponents to put him on a specific range.
- Mental Stamina: His capacity to battle through grueling multi-day grinds at his age—such as his 2025 WSOP Paradise run and his 2026 performance in Montenegro—demonstrates elite-level physical and mental endurance.
Social Media & Online Presence
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